US3195946A - Night driving glare shield - Google Patents

Description

y 20, 1955 J. VAN SICKLE 3,195,946

NIGHT DRIVING GLARE SHIELD Filed April 30, 1964 FIG] INVENTOR.

JOHN VAN SICKLE United States Patent C) 3,195,946 NIGHT DRIVING GLARE SHIELD John Van Sickie, Elma, N.Y. (Biilington Road, East Aurora, NY.) Filed Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 363,710 Claims. (Cl. 296-97) This invention relates in general to automotive accessories and pertains, more particularly, to a glare shield attachment adapted for use in conjunction with night drivmg.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 201,871, filed June 12, 1962, and now abandoned.

The glare produced by the headlights of oncoming trafhe creates a substantial safety hazard in connection with the operation of an automobile inasmuch as the human eye accommodates itself to light conditions much more quickly than the eye will accommodate or adapt to conditions of darkness. Thus, when a driver is subjected to glare from any source, contraction of the pupil takes place relatively rapidly whereas as soon as the glare source is eliminated, the dilation of the pupil takes a substantially longer period of time. Thus, the drivers vision will be impaired not only during the presence of the glare source, but also for a substantial period of time thereafter, creating a definite safety hazard. In order to overcome this, various types of glare shields for night driving have been proposed. However, in connection with such devices, it is imperative that the device display two characteristics simultaneously, one, that the source of glare is effectively and efficiently eliminated and, second, that the device does not detract from normal forward vision. It is the primary concern of the present invention to provide a night driving glare shield which possesses these characteristics.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved type of glare shield particularly adapted for shielding the drivers eyes from the glare of oncoming headlights which is so constructed and arranged as to be usable in combination with an ordinary sun visor to effectively obviate glare as aforesaid while, at the same time, permitting unobstructed and free forward vision so as to constitute no safety hazard in this respect.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the glare shield attachment of the present invention as applied to an ordinary sun visor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line IIlI in FIG. 1 and showing the manner in which the attachment is secured to the sun visor; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the manner in which the glare attenuating effect is produced in accordance with the present invention.

Referring at this time more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference numeral therein indicates in general an ordinary or conventional sun visor such as is normally employed and provided in conjunction with automotive vehicles. As is conventional in such constructions, the main body 12 of the sun visor 10 is provided with a mounting member 14 by means of which the sun visor is pivotally attached to the interior of the vehicle for movement between an out-of-the-way position and a substantially vertically depending position for the ordinary and Well known usage. The glare shield attachment according to thepresent invention is indicated generally by the reference character 16 in FIG. 1 and will be seen to include a base portion 18 and a laterally extending blade or wing portion 20. The glare shield is preferably constructed of dark, clear plastic material and may conveniently be constructed 3,l95,94,6 Patented July 20, 1965 from sheet stock. A suitable clasp or clip device is utilized to attach the glare shield 16 to the main body POrtion 12 of the sun visor 10 and a preferred form of such clasp construction is shown in FIG. 2. In this figure, a strip 22 of material, preferably flexible plastic which may be of the same stock from which the glare shield 16 is formed, is fixed at one end to a spacer block 24 so that the strip 22 is spaced from the opposing surface of the base portion 18 by an amount which is slightly less than the normal thickness of the sun visor body 12. Thus, a frictional clamping engagement is achieved by clamping the accessory 16 to the sun visor 10 substantially as is shown in FIG. 2.

The clip assembly, as aforesaid, is disposed adjacent the base of the blade portion of the glare shield and it is preferred that the mass of the base portion 18 and the blade portion 20 be such, in conjunction with the placement of the clip 22, that the clip acts substantially at the center of gravity of the glare shield device so that the angular disposition between the blade portion 20 and the bottom edge of the sun visor can be adjusted to suit the requirements of a particular situation and remain in such angularly adjusted position without shifting or changing as might be caused by vibration or jarring were the clip attachment to be located remotely from the center of gravity of the mass of the shield device 16.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the present invention operates. In this figure, reference character 26 indicates the right headlight of an oncoming vehicle as may be first observed by the left eye of the driver utilizing the shield device and the reference character 28 indicates the left headlight of the oncoming vehicle as maybe first observed by the drivers left eye. On the other hand, the reference character 30 indicates the right headlight as may be first observed by the right eye of the driver whereas the reference character 32 indicates the left headlight of the oncoming vehicle as may be first observed by the right eye of the driver. The two lines 34 and 36 indicate the paths of the headlights 26 and 28 as observed by the left eye of the driver whereas the dashed lines 38 and 40 indicate the paths of the headlights 30 and 32 as seen by the right eye of the driver. Since the oncoming vehicle will be at a substantial distance when first observed, the spacing between the points 26 and 30 or the points 28 and 32 will be substantially coincidental with the interpupiilary spacing of the driver, it being noted that the average interpupillary spacing is about mm. The paths 34, 36, 38 and ii) are illustrative of paths which would be encountered in a two-lane highway and it has been found that the blade portion 20 must be disposed at its maximum angle with relation to the bottom edge 42 of the sun visor 10 under such conditions. For example, the angularity shown particularly in FIG. 3 is approximately 18 whereas on a thruway or like road construction, having a center mall, the angularity might be reduced to as little as approximately 3 to 5 degrees; That is, the greater the space separating the opposing traffic lane from that of the operator, the less is therequired angle of the shield in relation to the bottom of the visor.

From a study of FIG. 3, it will be apparent that the base portion 18 of the glare shield device 16 includes the upper portion 44 which is disposed in face-to-face contact with the main body portion '12; of the sun visorand that such base portion 18 includes also a lower portion 46 which extends below the lower edge 42 of the sun visor. In conformity with the aforesaid requirements of effectively eliminating the glare source while, at the same time, permitting sufficient forwardvision so as to preclude safety hazard stemming from the presence of the glare shield, it has been found that the horizontal width of the base portion 18, below the sun visor 10 as between the edges 5i) and 58 in FIG. 3, should be at least as great as the a V interpupill ary spacing as. aforesaid. That is .to say, the lower portion 4601f the base portion 18 must be of a horizontal width such that the extreme points 26 and 32, as

. shown in FIG. 3, are encompassed thereby. From a practical consideration, the horizontal width of the base portion 18 should not-be lessthan about 80 mm. and may safely be made as great as about 120 mm. Within this range, adequate antiglare effect will be achieved without run ing the danger of blocking off normal vision for safe drlvmg. Furthermore, it has beenfound that the blade portion 2t) should be of a length not less than about 100 in order to permit the oncoming vehicleto draw s'ufliciently abreast of the vehicle utilizing the glare shield at V tachrnent to substantially eliminate the danger of glare when the oncoming vehiclepasses beyond the range of the blade 29. In this respect, it will be noted that the head lights of the oncomingvehicle cast their beams substantiah' ly in forwardly confined fashion sothat when the on coming vehicle approaches an abreast relationship, the

glare source is'largely eliminated. Preferably, the length hazard created by the glareotoncoming headlights. During the intervals when no cars are approaching the driver of the blade 26 is in the order of 120 mm. this dimension being measured between the edge portion 50 of the main body portion 18 and the tip edge 52 of the blade 20..

Likewise, it has been found that the width of the blade portion 20, that is the distance between the'upper edge 54 and the loweredge 55 thereof, need not be greater than 1 vision required for safe operationfof a vehicle, the shield may be positioned and used so as to effectively eliminate the glare source of oncoming trafiic,.without obstructing the forward vision of the road requiredfor safe operation of the vehicle, thus creating no-safety hazard. The space between the upper edge 54 of the blade portion 29 and the bottom edge 42 of the visor presents an additional area of clear'vision. By looking through'the shield itself, a

complete range of forwardvisionis obtained, without the may eliminate the shield from his path of vision by a slight nod or lowering of the head, a slight movement of the head to the right, or by a forward and upward turning of the bottom of the sun visor, or a combination of the above; Arevefsal of'the'movement would put the shield back in operative position when needed It is to be understood that certain changes and modifications to the specific embodiment as illustrated and described may be made without departing from the spirit of spent 50 m. and, is piefc'rabIyBO mm., the latter figure g ving adequate protection under all eircuaistaneesea countered in driving. It will be appreciated that if the horizontal width of theblade portion 20 is too great, the

glare shield attachment will detract from normal driving vision and will thereby present afsafety hazard.

It is also preferred that theedge SS'ofthe main bddy person is or the glare-shield device 16 be stif aig ht and substantially at right angles to the blade 2t), substantially as is shown, sothat the attachment can be utilized, 'as desired by the operator, as a convenient ice or snow scrap-- ing device. It will be further noted that the presence of the clip device 22 and'the associated bloclc24 provides'a'n' abutment assembly whereby theblock 24 may be engaged against the lower edge 42 of the sun visor to thereby quick 1y, eificiently'and conveniently locate the glare shield attachment 16 relative to the main bodyport-ion12 of the sun visor; All that is required of the operator is to lateral- I 1y adjust the glare shield deviceso that theglare sources are intercepted in the fashion indicated in, FIG; 3. and to achieve that degree of angularityof the blade 20 which Suits the driving conditions atJhand. Thus, the device presents a minimum distraction from normal driving duties and activities. From FIG. 3, it will be noted that the upper edge of the abutment block 24 is' arcuat'e to erhit the angularity of the device to be adjusted by rock--- mg motion. Also, it is preferred that the loweredge 25 of the abutment block be constructed to form an exten-' sion of the upper edge 5401: the blade portion so that the observers eyes are not subjected to fatigue by distracting images of the abutment block which might otherwise lie 1 in or close to a path of the oncoming headlights as seen by the left eye of the observer. Such a distraction would tend to cause the observers eyes to involuntarily change focus, momentarily, to the glare shield rather than on Similarly, 'I have found that a generally distant objects.

rectilinear shapefor that portion of the glare shield which 'i projects below thesun visor aids in preventing distractions which might otherwise occu-r'due to the fact that the images of. the glare shield as seen by the right and left eyes of the observer are shifted relative to each otherinto ioverlapping relation. This shifting and overlapping causes each edge of that area of the glare shield which'isbelow tracting and to cause the aforesaid involuntary focusing upon the glare shield instead of on the road ahead. Thus,

the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim: v

In combination with an automobile sun visor having an opaque main body portion disposed substantially verti-. cally and provided with te -substantially horizontal lower qedge, a'device for shielding a driveris eyesfrom headlight glare of oncoming trafiic,"

s aid'device comprising a sheet of glare-reducing material attached to said sun visor and forming an extension of said sunvisor parallel, therewith and projecting below said lower edge thereof, 7

, said sheet including a base having an upper portion engaged in face-to-face contact with said main body portion of the sun visor and a lower portion projecting below said lower edge of the sun visor, and a blade portion projecting, laterally from one edge of said lower portion of said base below said lower edge of the sun visor, V

and attachment means on said base adjacent the juncture thereof with said blade portion, said attachment means including an abutment member engaging said lower edge of the sun visor to position said lower portion and said base portionas'aforesaid.

2. The combination as defined in claim l wherein said blade portion is'of a width less than about millimeters.

3. In combination with a sun visor including a body portion having a lower, generally horizontal edge,

a lighhattenuating glare shield having a base portion and a blade portion, and attachment means on said base portion for securing said glare shield to said sun visor, r V

. said base porti-on'including an upper part overlapping said sun visor and a lower part extending below said lower edge of the sun visor, and said blade portion extending .laterally'from one edge of said lower part of the base portion in coplanar relation therewith below said lower edgeof said sunvisor,

said lowerpart of the base portion being of a horizontal "width, below said lower edge of the sun visor, of more than about millimeters so that a distant glare source may be attenuated by said lower part of the base portion with'respect to both eyes of an observer, 'said lower part of the base portion together with said blade. portion, providing a light-attenuating band which is vertically wider than the area delineated by the separate and spaced paths traced by an oncoming glare source as seen respectively by the left and right eyes of an observer and does not exceed about 50 millimeters,

said blade portion of the shield extending laterally from said lower part of the base portion a distance sufficient to effect the stated attenuation of the glare source until the glare source is substantially abreast of the observer.

4. In combination with a sun visor including a body portion having a lower, generally horizontal edge,

a light-attenuating glare shield having a base portion and a blade portion,

said base portion including an upper part overlapping said sun visor and a lower part extending below said lower edge of the sun visor, and said blade portion extending laterally from one edge of said lower part of the base portion in coplanar relation therewith below said lower edge of said sun visor,

said lower part of the base portion being of a horizontal width, below said lower edge of the sun visor, of more than about 55 millimeters so that a distant glare source may be attenuated by said lower part of the base portion with respect to both eyes of an observer,

said lower part of the base portion together with said blade portion providing a light-attenuating band which is vertically wider than the area delineated by the separate and spaced paths traced by an oncoming glare source as seen respectively by the left and right eyes of an observer and does not exceed about 50 millimeters.

said blade portion of the shield extending laterally from said lower part of the base portion a distance sufiicient to effect the stated attenuation of the glare source until the glare source is substantially abreast of the observer,

and attachment means on said base adjacent the juncture thereof with said blade portion, said attachment means including an abutment member engaging said lower edge of the sun visor to position said lower portion and said base portion as aforesaid.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the lower edge of said abutment member of said attachment 0 means is aligned with the upper edge of said blade portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,763 2/58 Extrom 296-97 2,863,697 12/58 Watkins 296-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 820,385 11/51 Germany.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN AUTOMOBILE SUN VISOR HAVING AN OPAQUE MAIN BODY PORTION DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY AND PROVIDED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LOWER EDGE, A DEVICE OF SHIELDING A DRIVER''S EYES FROM HEADLIGHT GLARE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SHEET OF GLARE-REDUCING MATERIAL ATTACHED TO SAID SUN VISOR AND FORMING AN EXTENSION OF SAID SUN VISOR PARALLEL THEREWITH AND PROJECTING BELOW SAID LOWER EDGE THEREOF, SAID SHEET INCLUDING A BASE HAVING AN UPPER PORTION ENGAGED IN FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH SAID MAIN BODY PORTION OF THE SUN VISOR AND A LOWER PORTION PROJECTING BELOW SAID LOWER EDGE OF THE SUN VISOR, AND BLADE PORTION PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM ONE EDGE OF SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID BASE BELOW SAID LOWER EDGE OF THE SUN VISOR, AND ATTACHMENT MEANS ON SAID BASE ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE THEREOF WITH SAID BLADE PORTION, SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS INCLUDING AN ABUTMENT MEMBER ENGAGING SAID LOWER EDGE OF THE SUN VISOR TO POSITION SAID LOWER PORTION AND SAID BASE PORTION AS AFORESAID.

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